antiq

Looks like an amazing trip!

I am thinking to go in January 2025 with the kids, how cold is it?  were you able to use the pool?

Was it under cover?

Thanks :-)

Haha opss sorry you are Jan 2025.

Time flies.

Whats your recommendation. Shall I wait or book now?

Thanks

Aj

I am looking to book for 10th Jan 2024 from Barcelona,  just wondering if it is too early.  Will we see better pricing in the next few month?  I had a quote today from Vacation to Go.

Thanks

Yes, they have.  You can pre order.

Hope everyone is well.  Just a quick update.  Finally I received the refund on 29th May.  I lodged a refund through the MSC website on 30th Mar for 2nd May Mediterranean cruise that was cancelled.  Email respond said 60 days for refund to be processed.  Good luck for those who are still waiting, should be happening soon.

For us living in Australia, unlikely travel ban will be lifted in July.  Although the curve seems to be flattening, they will take it slowly to lift restriction.  They will first open interstate travels.

I doubt we will be able to travel freely for at least 6 months.

Here in Australia we have just started closing our state borders, for our state as of today, only essential transportation is allowed, anyone entering has to go into 14 days self quarantine.  It is no impossible to get any flights in and out.  We have closed cafes, restaurants, gyms and other sporting clubs etc where gathering occurs.  As for restaurants and cafe will be take outs only.

I am hoping some to see some normality after 6 months, fingers and toes crossed.

What is the likelihood of Mediterranean cruises going ahead?  I noticed on MSC USA, if I cancel now I will only FCC valid until end of 2021,  however if they cancel, currently for cruises up to April 30th only,   MSC will offer 125% FCC or full refund.   Our cruise is on the Grandiosa 2nd May from Marseille, I think very unlikely it will go ahead with the current situation, should we wait for cancellation to occur?   I rather have a full refund than trying to plan ahead.

On 3/17/2020 at 7:19 AM, sidari said:

For the avoidance of doubt, the current terms for UK customers is that you can cancel up to 48 hours before a booked cruise and rebook a new cruise before December 31 2021, this only applies to fully paid up cruises for departure on or before June 30th 2020, and 96 hours before for cruise and fly. The cruise has to be in the same Geographic area as the cruise booked.

Other than this it is a case of waiting until MSC cancel your cruise and see what offer they make.

There is no flexibility then if the FCC can only be used for cruises in the same Geographic area.  I was under the impression you can use the FCC for any MSC cruises.

For those who applied for FCC, how did it take for MSC to provide documentation etc.

I am struggling to get through to airlines, no reply for emails and phone calls are not going through.

Hi guys,

For those who choose FCC do go direct through MSC or TA, I am just curious.

14 minutes ago, Ausbrit said:

I am in Australia too and booked through a US site.  Having so many problems communicating with them or MSC. Can you give me the initials of your TA, I’m curious if it’s the same company?  Do you have a link to the MSC refund form as I haven’t been able to find it.

Are you going to take the FCC and the $400 OBC?

Hi Ausbrit,  

I found this cruise assurance form on MSC USA website.   

https://msccruisesgetforms.com/mscforms/MSC-CRUISE-ASSURANCE-DIRECT.aspx?c=USA

I had no problem contacting our TA, they responded quite promptly and contacted MSC on my behalf whereas MSC Australia was not helpful at all, they wouldn't want to know about it.  I am just unsure if I will go through US TA again in the future.  This is the first time I used this company (ADC).   I am hoping if MSC cancel our 2nd May cruise I have more luck of getting a refund rather than FCC, as I am unsure if we will travel to Europe again before end of 2021.  

3 minutes ago, emmas gran said:

It really depends where you are from as USA and UK have different policies. I suggest you talk to your TA in the first instance

Liz

Yes I had contacted my TA.  I purchased the cruise from a US TA however I am living in Australia.  I realised that you can fill the cruise assurance form on MSC webiste directly.  Just checking if most people go through MSC directly or TA for the FCC?

Hi guys,

Just trying to get my head around this cancellation and FCC, do you use the form provided on the MSC website or through your TA? 

If going through TA I will have to pay $100 cancellation fee per reservation (I had 2 cabins booked).  I know if we rebook through the TA again next year, they can apply the cancellation fee on the next booking, but I am not sure if I will go to through the same TA again.

I booked through a US TA, cancellation policy is different than Aus.  My cruise is 2nd May, I have the form sent by TA for FCC and US$ 100 cancellation fee which can be reimbursed if we book with them again.  I am waiting for another week hopeful if MSC cancel we can have a refund. If we cancel now until 18th Mar we will lose 50%

Another MSC cruise, Magnifica pasangers not allowed to disembark in Australia.

https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/health-safety/coronavirus-nightmare-aboard-italian-luxury-cruise-ship-in-hobart/news-story/2a34f721b1d4a6d1fc65c6d78bd057ff

Hopefully things settle down soon.  Many people are frantically trying to cancel trips, I can't even get through to Qatar.

Got a reply from the TA, refund is not an option of our MSC Grandiosa 2nd May cruise.

We are now cancelling all travel plan as many countries are closing their borders, 4 weeks left for us before our trip, too risky to just wait and see.

Must be a huge number of people cancelling their trip,  I can't get through to Qatar and Air France.  

Here is the email from my TA:

I received an email from my TA, MSC advised I should cancel my reservation for our MSC Grandiosa May2nd out of Marseille.

Does not appear refund is an option?  Has anyone had a refund without the hefty penalty?

I am not planning for another long distance holiday in 2021.

Is anyone able to get a travel insurance that will cover Corona Virus medical events?

I've just read MSC cancellation policy.  MSC USA is different from MSC Australia. 

On Australian MSC webpage cancel 119 to 90 days will lose deposit only and  89 days to 45 days -  25% penalty on Australia MSC website.  

On MSC USA website 60- 46 days - 50% penalty and 59 days to 15 days will lose 75%. 

It is inconsistent for the same company.

Looks like they are not making any formal announcement on the updated policy until Monday.

We are contacting you regarding your MSC reservations aboard the MSC Grandiosa sailing on May 2, 2020. MSC advised a new cancellation policy will be announced on  Monday, March 9, 2020. Therefore, we will be able to provide further details at that time regarding possible cancellation.

1 hour ago, BermudaBound2014 said:

Sidari posted this link in another thread. Looks like Monday will be the announcement for cancellation policy.

 

In a communication with Cruise Waves, MSC’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for USA Ken Muscat said that the cruise line will make an announcement on this on Monday (9 March 2020).

https://cruisewaves.co.uk/2020/03/07/msc-cruise-guests-left-in-limbo-as-other-operators-announce-coronavirus-cancellation-policies/

Yes, you are right.

I have a reply from my TA:

We are contacting you regarding your MSC reservations aboard the MSC Grandiosa sailing on May 2, 2020. MSC advised a new cancellation policy will be announced on  Monday, March 9, 2020. Therefore, we will be able to provide further details at that time regarding possible cancellation.

52 minutes ago, DKNE said:

We are booked on the Seaview next month. Last night we were told by MSC we could have 100% refund or rebook for within a year. We have 21 days prior to sailing to cancel or change. They are only doing this for Mediterranean cruises only. We have 3 stops in Italy. However our flight goes to Barcelona, which we will loose our flights,  as Air Canada said Barcelona isn't a hot spot. I said so if we do this cruise, stop in Italy for 3 ports, your saying it's ok to fly home. They kept saying Barcelona isn't a restricted area to cancel flights. MSC was great to deal with, Air Canada not so much. 

We are scheduled to sail on Grandiosa on 2nd May with 3 ports in Italy, MSC said no free cancellation.  The policy does not seem consistent.  Is MSC only reconsidering March and April sailing for refund?

Hi, 

We are scheduled to cruise on the Grandiosa on 5/2 from Marseille,  stopping at 3 Italian port.  The TA who contacted MSC on my behalf replied that it is scheduled to sail as planned.  Standard cancellation policy will apply, if I cancel now we will lose 50% and 75% penalty from March 18th onwards.

If they are not allowing Italians to board, it does not make sense that MSC are still stopping at Italian ports.  We are coming from Australia and currently Italy is on Level 2 alert - Exercise High degree of caution and I might have to comply with 14 self quarantine upon returning to Australia due to my line of work .  I have send an another email requesting a possibility of rescheduling without cost or free cancellation.  Hopefully there is some good news.

I know sometimes the information was not clear, I rang the embassy and they confirmed on a cruise should not be a problem in entering.  I have always traveled with Schengen Visa to Europe, I am a permanent resident of Australia.  Always multiple entries visa.  In 2013 we went to Dubrovnik on MSC Divina and it was not an issue.